Independent Advisory Group (IAG) Terms of Reference

Introduction

Young black and/or Muslim men face disproportionate outcomes at every stage of the Criminal Justice System (CJS). In prison they are more likely to be subject to adjudication, be on the basic regime, and are less likely to be granted Release on Temporary Leave. Black offenders are also more likely to reoffend than their white counterparts.

Our primary objective is to support improved outcomes for young black and/or Muslim men in the CJS. This includes men aged 18-24 who identify as black British; black African; black Caribbean; Muslim or mixed heritage/origin where it includes one or more of above. We will do this by implementing the recommendations from the Young Review report.

We will provide leadership and advice to government (Ministry of Justice and NOMS) and providers (statutory, private and voluntary) and be a focal point for government to work proactively with a range of community partners, academics, user representatives and interest groups to ensure long term sustainable improvements.

TheRemit

While the IAG will maintain a clear focus on improving outcomes for young black and/or Muslim men in the criminal justice system, outcomes for these young men in the CJS cannot be understood or improved in isolation from the outcomes they face across other areas of social policy. Therefore, while the IAG’s key audience will be MoJ, NOMs and the providers they commission to deliver services, the Group will also seek to engage, where appropriate, representatives from other government departments and to establish reciprocal relationships with other groups working to influence government in these policy areas:

Health Policing

Employment Education

Roles and Responsibilities

To support the identification of key priorities and feed into MoJ/NOMS equalities objectives in relation to young black and/or Muslim men

To review information from government and providers about resource allocation to meet the needs of young black and/or Muslim offenders

To monitor and review data on outcomes for young black and/or Muslim men and progress against equalities objectives and help identify good practice and make recommendations to providers for sustaining/improving practice in relation to young black and/or Muslim men

To provide robust challenge to government and providers by identifying gaps, raising issues and scrutinising specific priorities and programmes

To act as a critical friend to MoJ and NOMS in the development of policy to address the needs of young black and/or Muslim men and in the development of commissioning strategies that address the needs of young black and/or Muslim men and ensure that the expertise and knowledge that resides in communities can be drawn upon

To provide knowledge and expertise to government and providers, including from other areas of social policy, that are relevant to the experiences of and outcomes for young black and/or Muslim men in criminal justice

To help identify areas that require coordination with other areas of government policy, both nationally and locally, including identifying key stakeholders in other departments and policy areas.

To provide intelligence to MoJ and NOMS on the needs of black and Muslim offenders and feedback on the effects of policies on this service user group and organisations that work with them.

Membership and leadership

The Advisory Group will consist of up to 12 representatives, openly recruited, from key voluntary and community organisations or academics and individuals from civil society that have an appropriate set of competencies to contribute to addressing this issue. They will be based in different parts of England and be able to provide expertise to contribute to Phase II, the implementation of the Young Review recommendations.

The IAG will be chaired by Baroness Lola Young. The Vice Chair will be Chief Executive of BTEG. It is anticipated that members will serve for a period of three years in the first instance.

Members will not be paid but reasonable out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed.

The IAG will meet quarterly.

Relevant Directors, Deputy Directors, other officials from relevant government departments (MoJ, NOMS, HO, BIS) and representatives from CRCs will join the group where appropriate on a permanent or time-limited basis.